William F. Keller, 79, of Newcastle, died on the morning of April 28, peacefully at home with his loved ones by his side. He was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy; brother, Rick; three children, Tara Ambrose, Christopher Keller, and Daniel Keller; grandchildren, Cameron Jack and Ruby Ambrose, Cole and Brynn Harper, and little Chevy Keller.
Bill grew up on Long Island, N.Y. where he graduated from Northport High School, and later from NY University. He left the family ice cream manufacturing business in Manhattan after college, and started his commercial fishing ventures. The commercial fishing industry initially took him to Jonesport, and he worked his way down the coast to Portland.
He started Cap’n Cooks, Tara’s Veggie Burgers, and Maine Country Foods in Boothbay, ran Ernie’s Drive-In in Brunswick, as well as numerous other ventures.
In his retirement, he gardened and started another venture, Weatherization Experts in Newcastle. All three of his children share his entrepreneurial spirit and gifts, as well as his love for gardening.
He will always be remembered as hard working, hard playing, and a kind and generous guy who would give anyone a chance and a hand up to who needed it. He loved his family dearly and will be deeply missed by friends and family alike.
“Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart
until, in our own despair, against our will,
comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.”
― Aeschylus
A time of visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m., on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home in Damariscotta. He will be laid to rest privately in the Hillside Cemetery in Damariscotta.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for his family, may be expressed by visiting stronghancock.com.
